**Executive Summary**
The document is a response to an unstarred question in Lok Sabha (No. 1377) regarding the promotion of cultural diversity. It outlines the Ministry of Culture's initiatives to promote India's cultural diplomacy, digitize cultural resources, and modernize museum infrastructure. The response was provided on December 8, 2023.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Promotion of Cultural Diplomacy and Soft Power Projection:**
* The Ministry of Culture promotes India's cultural diplomacy through the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) and other initiatives.
* ICCR promotes Indian culture worldwide through Indian Missions/Posts and its 38 Indian Cultural Centres (ICCs) abroad.
* Activities include Yoga programs, Indian classical and folk arts, Indian languages, visual arts exhibitions, film screenings, lectures, seminars, and Indian festivals, including the International Day of Yoga.
* Cultural troupes reflecting India's regional diversity are regularly sent abroad via MoUs with States and Union Territories.
* The "Festivals of India" are organized abroad under the Ministry of Culture's Global Engagement Scheme.
* The Ministry of Culture also signs Cultural Exchange Programmes (CEPs) with other countries.
* Museums collaborate with foreign embassies and cultural institutions.
* **Digitization of Archives, Manuscripts, and Museum Collections:**
* The National Mission on Cultural Mapping (NMCM) is confined to cultural mapping and documentation through the 'Mera Gaon Meri Dharohar' portal.
* The National Virtual Library of India (NVLI) provides integrated digital access to cultural resources through the Indian Culture Portal.
* The Gyan Bharatam Mission is a flagship initiative for large-scale digitization of India's manuscript heritage.
* Museums under the Ministry of Culture are digitizing collections under initiatives such as JATAN.
* **Modernization of Museum Infrastructure and Enhancement of Visitor Engagement:**
* The Ministry of Culture modernizes museum infrastructure through advanced technologies and experiential technologies.
* The Museum Grant Scheme offers financial assistance for new museums, upgrades, digitization, and capacity building.
* The National Council of Science Museums (NCSM) focuses on research and development in museum display technologies, using AR, VR, AI, and computer vision.
* The Victoria Memorial Hall has established a multimedia gallery titled “Biplobi Bharat”.
* The National Museum, New Delhi has commissioned the Virtual Experiential Museum on Ajanta (VEMA).
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholders Impacted:**
Ministry of Culture
* **Impact:** Responsible for implementing and overseeing the initiatives described.
* **Action Required:** Continue to execute the initiatives to promote cultural diplomacy, digitization, and museum modernization.
**Stakeholders Impacted:**
Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR)
* **Impact:** Plays a central role in promoting Indian culture globally through various programs.
* **Action Required:** Continue organizing cultural programs and activities through Indian Missions/Posts and ICCs.
**Stakeholders Impacted:**
Museums (Central and State Governments, Societies, Autonomous Bodies, Local Bodies, Academic Institutions and Trusts registered under the Societies Registration Act)
* **Impact:** Receives financial assistance and guidance for digitization, upgrades, and new initiatives.
* **Action Required:** Utilize the Museum Grant Scheme for modernization, digitization, and capacity building.
**Stakeholders Impacted:**
Scholars, Researchers, and the General Public
* **Impact:** Gain increased access to India's cultural resources through digitization and enhanced museum experiences.
* **Action Required:** Utilize the Indian Culture Portal and digitized museum collections for research and engagement.
**Stakeholders Impacted:**
Artists and Cultural Societies
* **Impact:** Get opportunities for international performances and cultural exchanges.
* **Action Required:** Participate in "Festivals of India" and engage in Indo-Foreign Friendship Cultural Societies activities.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Culture: The primary government entity responsible for promoting India's cultural diversity and implementing related schemes.
Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR): An autonomous organization under the Ministry of External Affairs, responsible for promoting Indian culture and fostering people-to-people exchanges internationally.
Museum Grant Scheme: A scheme providing financial assistance to museums for development, digitization, and capacity building.
National Virtual Library of India (NVLI): A platform providing integrated digital access to India's cultural resources.
National Museum, New Delhi: Commissioned the Virtual Experiential Museum on Ajanta (VEMA) to provide visitors with an immersive and educational digital experience of the Ajanta Caves
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CULTURE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 1377
TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.12.2025
PROMOTION OF CULTURAL DIVERSITY
1377. SMT. PRATIMA MONDAL:
Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:
(a) the details of the initiatives undertaken/being undertaken to promote India’s
cultural diplomacy and soft power projection through institutions such as the Indian
Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), especially in fostering people-to-people
exchanges and showcasing regional cultural diversity abroad;
(b) the progress made in digitizing archives, manuscripts and museum collections
under the National Mission on Cultural Mapping and the National Virtual Library of
India and the manner in which this data is being made accessible to scholars and the
public; and
(c) the details of the steps being taken to modernize museum infrastructure and
introduce experiential technologies such as augmented and virtual reality to enhance
visitor engagement and educational outreach?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF CULTURE AND TOURISM
(SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)
(a) India’s cultural diplomacy and soft power projection are promoted through
various initiatives of the Ministry of Culture and its organizations. Indian Council for
Cultural Relations (ICCR), an autonomous body under Ministry of External Affairs,
promotes Indian culture worldwide through Indian Missions/Posts and its 38 Indian
Cultural Centres (ICCs) abroad by organizing programmes in Yoga, Indian classical
and folk dance and music, Indian languages, visual arts exhibitions, film screenings,
lectures, seminars and celebration of Indian festivals and the International Day of
Yoga. Cultural troupes reflecting India’s regional diversity are regularly deputed
abroad, and folk arts are promoted through MoUs signed with States and Union
Territories.
Under the Ministry of Culture’s Global Engagement Scheme, “Festivals of India” are
organized abroad, providing opportunities to artists from diverse cultural fields to
perform internationally. Grant-in-aid is also released to Indo-Foreign Friendship
Cultural Societies to foster people-to-people exchanges.
Ministry of Culture also sign Cultural Exchange Programmes(CEPs) with other
countries for disseminating Indian art and culture abroad. Museums also collaborate
with foreign embassies and cultural institutions as part of India’s cultural outreach.(b) The National Mission on Cultural Mapping (NMCM) does not have the
mandate for digitization of archives, manuscripts or museum collections; its mandate
is confined to cultural mapping and documentation through’ Mera Gaon Meri
Dharohar’ portal.
The National Virtual Library of India (NVLI), while not directly undertaking
digitization, provides integrated digital access to India’s cultural resources through the
Indian Culture Portal, a unified and user-friendly platform that aggregates
manuscripts, rare books, museum collections, archival records and audio-visual
content for the benefit of scholars, researchers and the general public. However,
‘Gyan Bharatam Mission’, a flagship initiative of the Ministry of Culture, covers the
large-scale digitization of India’s manuscript heritage to facilitate preservation and
wider access.
Museums under the Ministry of Culture have also made substantial progress in
digitizing their collections under initiatives such as JATAN, and the digitized
collections are accessible through online repositories and virtual exhibitions.
(c) The Ministry of Culture has undertaken sustained efforts to modernize
museum infrastructure and enhance visitor engagement through the adoption of
advanced and experiential technologies. Under the Museum Grant Scheme, the
Ministry provides financial assistance for setting up new museums, development and
upgradation of existing museums, digitization of museum collections, establishment
of virtual museums, and capacity-building and training of museum professionals of
museums managed by Central and State Governments, Societies, Autonomous
Bodies, Local Bodies, Academic Institutions and Trusts registered under the Societies
Registration Act.
The National Council of Science Museums (NCSM) is at the forefront of research and
development in museum display technologies and continues to innovate to improve
visitor experience by integrating cutting-edge technologies such as augmented reality
(AR), virtual reality (VR), artificial intelligence (AI), computer vision and sensor-
based interactive systems.
The Victoria Memorial Hall has established a multimedia gallery titled “Biplobi
Bharat”, which uses modern interpretative tools to showcase the life, struggle and
invaluable contributions of Indian revolutionaries to the freedom movement.
The National Museum, New Delhi has commissioned the Virtual Experiential
Museum on Ajanta (VEMA) to provide visitors with an immersive and educational
digital experience of the Ajanta Caves. The National Museum has also digitized a
substantial number of its collections to ensure wider public access and enhanced
outreach.
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